McCain upbeat on migrant reform in House

The two leaders of the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Eight” on Thursday expressed optimism about the prospects for immigration reform this year, despite continuing resistance from many House Republicans to a pathway to citizenship for many of the estimated 11million undocumented immigrants in the country.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the lead negotiators on the comprehensive immigration-reform bill passed June27 by the Senate, said they were feeling good because House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other House Republicans this week acknowledged that avoiding action on the immigration issue is not an option and that bipartisanship is needed.

The House GOP caucus met Wednesday in a private session to discuss immigration reform. While the landmark legislation and its pathway to citizenship remain unpopular with many House conservatives, Boehner and other Republican leaders committed to tackling the immigration issue in their own way, most likely with a series of smaller bills.

“If I had to choose a word for yesterday’s House meeting, it would be ‘encouraging,’ ” Schumer said Thursday. “We’re moving forward, and immigration reform, I think, has a strong future this year here in Washington.”

McCain also said the House developments are positive.

“I could have drawn you a scenario where the Republican conference would have just said, ‘We’re not taking up the legislation, we’re not having anything to do with it.’ That’s not what they said,” McCain said.

McCain and Schumer made their remarks to reporters on Thursday following a meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. Passing comprehensive immigration reform is Obama’s top second-term domestic priority.

Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said Obama had “a good discussion” with Schumer and McCain about the importance of reform and also is pleased that the House appears to be “moving forward” on the immigration issue.

“It’s clear that there is a broad coalition to support common-sense immigration reform, and we are pleased the House recognizes that inaction is not an option,” Carney said. “There is support from CEOs and labor leaders, from faith leaders and law-enforcement leaders, from Democrats and from Republicans.”

McCain stressed that he respects Boehner and the House and was grateful that Republicans such as Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the 2012 GOP vice-presidential nominee, were working on a solution. He said it was important that GOP House members don’t feel pressured by Obama on the issue.

Both McCain and Schumer also reiterated the importance of a route to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who take steps such as submitting to background checks as well as paying fines and taxes.

“We must address the issue of 11million people who are living in the shadows in this country — that is an unacceptable situation,” McCain said.

“Our Gang of Eight has said resolutely that a path to citizenship has to be part of the solution,” Schumer added. “I believe that the president believes that as well. We’ll see where the House ends up.”

At a Thursday news conference, Boehner did not rule out action on a path to citizenship or legalization. While reiterating that the House won’t take up the Senate bill, the speaker said “we’re going to find out” if the House can back some sort of a citizenship or legalization proposal. Boehner has said a majority of House Republicans would have to support any immigration bills before he brings them to the floor for a vote.

“We’ve got a broken system, it needs to be fixed, and I made a strong case yesterday that it needs to be fixed and the Republicans ought to be part of the solution,” Boehner said. “It’s always in the party’s best interest when we’re doing the right thing for the country.”

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